Display frame



June 9, 1936. 4 LQA'. HlRscH ET AL D I S PLAY FRAME Filed Dec. 4, 1935Patented June 9, 1936 UNITED STATES DI SPLAY' FRAME Lewis A. Hirsch,Jersey City, and Max hammer, North Bergen, N. J.

Mittel- Application December 4, 1935, Serial No. `52,868

3 Claims.

This invention relates toframes and the im-` provements are directed tonovel and unique means for mounting display means, in the form Vofsigns, pictures, or thelike, whereby advertising matter may be exhibitedto the public.

An important object of the invention resides in the provision of adevice of the above-mentioned character that may be attached to thesidesof a vehicle, lsuoli as a truck or delivery automobile, said devicebeing susceptible of manipulations whereby a sign, or the like, may beattached thereto and removed when desiredto receive a different sign orpicture.

Another object is to provide means for'clamping the marginal portion ofa sign, or the like, to the frame, said means permitting insertion andremoval of the sign as desired.

Still another object of the invention resides in the provision of abacking which Vis associated with certain frame members wherebysaidbacking presents a longitudinally and transversely convexed frontsurface to receive the matter to be displayed, said arrangementcooperating with the aforesaid clamping means to stretch and tightensaid display means over said backing.

A still further object is to provide tension means to maintain saidclamping elements in a position to bind the display matter to saidframe.

A still further aim of the invention is to produce a device embodyingframe members having a backing bridging the space therebetween, saidmembers hingedly supporting certain clamping elements which latter maybe swung on their pivots to expose the outer surfaces of said frame andbacking to permit the attachment of certain disp-lay matter to the frameand backing.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent as the nature of theinvention is better set forth, and it will be understood that changeswithin the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the display means constructed inaccordance with our invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail as viewed on the line 5-5 of Fig.2.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Referring now more in detail to the accompanying drawing, wherein likecharacters of reference denote similar parts `throughout the severalviews, the numerals 5 and 6 indicate the top and bottom members,respectively, of the frame, while 1 and 8 represent the side membersthereof, said members unitedly forming the frame of the device andhaving their meeting ends joined by suitable fastening means asindicated generally bythe numeral 9, (see Fig. 2). As shown in Figs. 2,3 and 4, saidmembers 'I and 8 are connected by a crosspiece IG, whichserves to strengthen the frame, and as clearly depicted in Fig. `4, theouter or front face of said crosspiece I0 is conveXed, said facecarrying a backing II whose outeredges are secured to said framemembers, as shown, the arrangement'being such that the front surface ofsaid backing. presents a longitudinally and transversely convexedsurface as clearly shown inFigs. 3 and 4.

Each of said frame members is provided with a clamping element and asshown in Fig. 1 vthe ends of the clamping elements are miteredso that acontinuous framed arrangement is set forth when said elements are in theposition shown in said Fig. l. Thus, the clamping element I2V is hingedto the frame member 5 as indicated at I3,

whilst the side clamping elements I4 and I5 are hinged to the sidemembers 'I and 8, as indicated at I6 and I'I, respectively, and finallythe clamping element I8 is hinged to the bottom member 6. as shown atI9, Fig. 2. Each clamping element is substantially L-shaped incross-section, (see Fig. 5), and as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the leg 20 ofeach o-f said elements carries one leaf of the hinges whilst the otherleaf is. secured to the respective frame member. It will also be notedthat the other leg 2| of each of the said clamping elements extends overthe front surface of each of the frame members and further overlies themarginal portions of said backing I I. In view of 40 this arrangement itis manifest that any display means A, (see Figs. 3 and 4), placed oversaid backing II will have its marginal portions firmly clamped or boundbetween said legs 2I and that portion of the frame therebeneath. In viewof the above arrangement it wil1` be seen that each of the clampingelements may be swung on the pivots to raise the legs 2l from thebacking and frame, and when said clamping elements are in this openposition said display means A may be applied over the backing I I andthe clamping elements returned to the position shown in the drawing tothus hold said display means in the condition shown. However, it isobvious that means should be provided to normally urge the legs 2| ofthe clamping elements into contact with the marginal portion of saiddisplay means in order that the latter may be held in its position oversaid backing. The means we employ for this purpose will now beexplained.

In the present embodiment of the invention the aforesaid means comprisescoiled springs 22 which are positioned in recesses 23, arranged in theframe members, one end 24 of said spring being mounted in a slot 25 inthe frame members, while the other end 26 is fastened by a clamp 2l tothe leg 20 of each of the clamping elements. Cover plates 28 cover therecesses 23 and the slots 25 and prevent displacement of said springs,as shown in Fig. 2. The number of springs employed will', of course,depend on the size of the frame. It will also be noted that the inneredges of the legs 2| are provided with struck-up` portions 29 tofacilitate the manipulation of the clamping elements.

In applying advertising matter to the frame said clamping elements areswung on their hinges to clear the frame members and as this operationtensions the springs, suitable wedges may be temporarily inserted toprevent the return of said elements.' The advertising or sign is nowplaced on the backing I I and the wedges removed sothe clamping elementsreturn to their normal positions to bind said sign to the device. Itwill be obvious that in view of the longitudinal and transversecurvature of said backing the said legs 2| will tend to exert a pull onthe marginal portion of said sign so that the latter is slightlystretched or drawn over the backing to assume a taut condition. Thedisplay sign may be changed when desired and the device as a whole maybe attached to the truck or motor vehicle in any suitable manner. Thedevice is sturdy in construction and comprises but a few parts and henceit may be manufactured at a reasonable cost thus assuring its commercialsuccess.

We claim:

1. A display frame comprising top, bottom and side members, a backingbridging the space between said members and presenting a longitudinallyand transversely convexed front surface, clamping elements hingedlyborne by said frame, one for each of said members, a portion of each ofsaid elements overlying each of said members to removably bind displaymeans to the frame and means normally urging said clamping elements toengage the marginal portion of said display means.

2. A display frame comprising top, bottom and side members, a backingbridging the space between said members and presenting a longitudinallyand transversely convexed front surface, an L-shaped clamping elementfor each of said members, one leg of sai-d element being hingedlyconnected to each of said members, the other leg of said elementoverlying the front portion of each of said members to bind the marginaledges of a display means between the leg and the said members andtension means normally urging said clamping elements into engagementwith the marginal portion of said display means, the arrangement beingsuch that the said engagement exerts a pull to tighten the display meansover the convexed surface of sai-d backing.

3. A display frame comprising top, bottom and side members, a crosspiece connecting said top and bottom members, said cross piece having aconvexed front surface, a backing bridging the space between saidmembers and being 'affixed to said cross piece to present alongitudinally and transversely convexed outer surface, clampingelements hingedly borne by said members, one for each member, a portionof each of said elements overlying each of said members to bind displaymeans to the frame and tension means associated with said elements tobind and stretch the display means to the frame.

LEWIS A. HIRSCI-I. MAX MITTELI-IAMMER.

